State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) Needs Assessment Questionnaire Results

A quick overview by Bruce Snead, National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University

This information was presented at the National Conference on October 15. I wanted to share it here for those who weren’t able to attend. I have also attached a PDF summary of the entire assessment. From my perspective, it paints a dire consequence of about 80 percent of SIRG programs being eliminated if SIRG funding is stopped.

Purpose of the Assessment:

• Intended to gather the specific needs of state radon programs if SIRG were not included in the 2013 Fiscal Budget.
• Identifying gaps in state radon programs that may result is a critical step to ensuring these issues are addressed in the most effective way possible.
• Identifying gaps in state radon programs that may result is a critical step to ensuring these issues are addressed in the most effective way possible.

Survey Background:

• 11 questions –developed by Cadmus Group with input from:
• Carolyn Allen, Bruce Snead, Ruth McBurney, Bill Long, Susie Shimek, Doug Farquhar, Shawn Price, Peter Hendrick, Katrin Kral,
• 52 respondents-31 states, 1 tribe, 1 region
• 7 states had multiple respondents
• This overview does not include responses to questions 1,4,5,7, 8, and 10, which are included in the PDF summary of the entire assessment.

Question 2: What outreach efforts will be reduced or completely eliminated?
49 -respondents

• Community Outreach Activities (e.g., NRAM, Poster Contest). 64.7 %
• Educational Events (e.g., Webinars, Trade Shows, Presentations). 62.7 %
• Our outreach portion of our program will be eliminated without SIRG. 54.9 %
• Sub-Grants to Local Governments or Non Profits. 51 %
• State Outreach Campaigns (e.g., Public Service Announcements, Media Publications). 49%.
• Our program will be eliminated without SIRG. 47.1%
  (when you include states that checked items 1,2,3,4 –add 16 more = 79%)
• Print Resources (e.g., Brochures, Factsheets). 45.1%
• Online Resources (e.g., Website, Social Media). 23.5%
• Other (please specify).17.6%

Question 3: What technical resources will be reduced or eliminated?
50 respondents

• Trainings/Conferences Conducted 60.0%
• Studies or Surveys 52.0%
• Contractor Assistance 52.0%
• Program eliminated without SIRG 48.0%
• State Radon Hotline 32.0%
• Other –(please specify) 28.0%

Question 6: Will you be able to continue providing test kits and testing information?
49 respondents

• NO 76%
• YES at reduced level 20%
• YES same level 0%'
• NA 4%

Question 9: Will you let staff go without SIRG funding?
51 respondents

• YES 53%
• NO 47%

Question 11: What is your greatest concern if SIRG is eliminated?
47 respondents

• loss of momentum
• elimination of program
• elimination of outreach activities
• loss of staff-members

Quotes:

• “IT WILL ALL BE GONE.”
• “no outreach efforts what so ever if our program loses SIRG funding”
• “Some or all technically proficient staff will be lost.”
• “the entire program will cease to exist, NEVER TO COME BACK AGAIN.”
• “By eliminating SIRG funding, it will appear to the average citizen that the Federal Government is no longer concerned about indoor radon.”
• “We could also lose the entire licensing program”